Blackberry plant named &#39;APF-122&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant named ‘APF-122’. Characteristics include its precocity, high soluble solids (even at the red-black stage), very little postharvest reddening (&lt;10%), heavy over-crops on its compact primocanes such that a floricane crop would generally not be economically viable.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) are a well-known, aggregate fruit that are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Recent efforts at the University of Arkansas, using traditional breeding techniques and testing selections under mild climate conditions along the western coast of the USA, have led to the development of the world's first primocane-fruiting cultivars. Primocane-fruiting blackberries, in contrast to floricane-fruiting types, provide growers with the ability to produce fruit on first year canes (ie, primocanes), as well as second-year canes (ie, floricanes). In addition, primocane-fruiting blackberries produce fruit in late summer to autumn, whereas floricane-fruiting types generally fruit in early to mid-summer. The ability to extend the harvest season offers fresh market growers a significant economic advantage.

One example of an existing primocane-fruiting blackberry variety is ‘APF-45’ (marketed under the trade name ‘Prime-Ark® 45’), U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,449. Another example of an existing, patent-pending primocane-fruiting blackberry variety is ‘Camila’. A further example of an existing primocane-fruiting blackberry variety is ‘Reuben’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,497.

Compared to ‘APF-45’, the present cultivar, ‘APF-122’, is different because the fruit size is smaller (5.8 g vs. 8.8 g, on average) and significantly earlier in fruiting season (average ripe fruit date for primocanes on APF-122 is 5-6 months after planting vs. 8-9 months after planting ‘APF-45’).

Compared to ‘Camila’, the fruit shape of ‘Camila’ is elongated, while the fruit shape of APF-122 is round. Fruits of ‘Camila’ have only moderate firmness, while APF-122 is very firm.

Compared to ‘Reuben’, the fruits of ‘Reuben’ are much larger than APF-122, averaging 14.5 g versus 5.8 g, respectively. Also, ‘Reuben’ is a late-fruiting variety, while APF-122 is considered early for a primocane-fruiting type. The fruits of ‘Reuben’ are oblong and blocky, while fruits of ‘APF-122’ are round.

Distinctive characteristics of ‘APF-122’ include its precocity, high soluble solids (even at the red-black stage) and very little postharvest reddening (<10%). ‘APF-122’ is also unique in that is over-crops so heavily on its compact primocanes that a floricane crop would generally not be economically viable. Normally in commercial practice, primocane-fruiting blackberries are pinch pruned (i.e., the tips are pinched out at the appropriate stage of growth) in order to force more fruiting laterals. However, in the case of APF-122, given its high yield potential and precocity, it may prove that in commercial practice that the need for such pinching may be reduced or even eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing fruit of the Blackberry cultivar ‘APF-122’ at the ripening stage, along with crop load on one-year old canes. The photo was taken of plants having a crown aged of 1 year and cane age of 8 months.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the full plant the Blackberry cultivar ‘APF-122’ at the flowering stage. The photo was taken of plants having a crown aged of 3 years and cane age of 8 months.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an exemplary fruit of the Blackberry cultivar ‘APF-122’ exhibiting color in accord with Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Black Group 203A. The photo was taken of fruit from plants having a crown aged of 3 years.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note: statements of characteristics herein represent exemplary observations of the cultivar herein and will vary depending on time of year, location, annual weather, etc. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages. The descriptions reported herein are from specimen plants that observed in summer 2013 at Watsonville, Calif.

Cultivar Name: ‘APF-122’

Classification:

Family: Rosaceae

Botanical name: Rubus Subgenus Rubus Watson

Common name: Blackberry

Parentage:

Female parent:

Name: APF-45, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,449. Compared to ‘APF-45’, the present cultivar, ‘APF-122’, is different because the fruit size is smaller (5.8 g vs. 8.8 g, on average) and significantly earlier in fruiting season (average ripe fruit date for primocanes is 5-6 months after planting vs. 8-9 months after planting APF-45).

Male parent:

Name: A-2286. This was a proprietary breeding line that was never patented. This line has been discarded due to winter injury susceptibility. Compared to A-2286, A-2286 is thorny with thornless alleles. A-2286 is larger than ‘APF-122’, has taller canes, and was later ripening as well as fruited only on floricanes.

The new and distinct cultivar of blackberry originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Arkansas selections ‘APF-45’×A-2286 (non-patented, unreleased genotype; male) made in 2003 and located near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The botanical designation of the new cultivar of blackberry is Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson.

The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the winter to early spring of 2004 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 2005 on floricanes and one seedling, designated APF-122, was selected in 2005 for its firmness and low-acid flavor, good crop potential, early primocane bloom and plant health.

During late summer of 2005 the original plant selection was propagated asexually from root cuttings at the above-noted location, and a test row of 20 plants was established. Subsequently, larger test plantings have been established with asexually multiplied plants at Clarksville, Ark. and Watsonville, Calif.

The new cultivar has been asexually multiplied annually since 2006 by the use of root cuttings and by rooting adventitious shoots from root cuttings. It forms new shoots from adventitious buds on root cuttings readily. During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of the original plant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared.

-   General description: Plants of ‘APF-122’ have moderate vigor, but     are highly precocious. Actively growing canes tend to shift from     vegetative to reproductive state at approx. 0.75 m in height and do     not require pinching. Canes are erect in growth habit, even in Year     1, and are of small to medium stature. ‘APF-122’ can be considered     to have a vase form/shape with a growth habit of erect canes. The     height averages 1.1 m as measured from cane base to cane apex The     spread is 33 cm as measured from leaf tip to leaf tip. The time to     initiate and develop roots is 30 days and the roots are fibrous. -   Growth: Plants of ‘APF-122’ have moderate vegetative vigor and erect     growth habit. Primocanes emerge both from the crown of the plant as     well as from the roots (as suckers). -   Growth rate: The growth rate of ‘APF-122’ is moderate, with canes     reaching 1.2 meters in height within five (5) months of emergence. -   Productivity: Medium -   Cold hardiness: Cold hardiness is unknown, and is not considered     important in the mild coastal California climate. -   Branching height of the plants: Natural branching occurs, but is     variable. Typically, starting at about 0.5 to 0.75 m in height,     fruiting laterals begin to elongate at nearly every node. -   Canes: The following discussion is directed to primocanes; floricane     data is omitted because this cultivar is strongly     primocane-fruiting.

General description: Thorny, erect. Base Middle Tip Diameter: 0.9 cm 0.8 cm 0.3 cm Length: 1.1 m Number of Nodes: 31 Internode length: 3.6 cm 2.8 cm 1.8 cm Number of canes/hill: 4-6 Cane Color: RHS 143 A Spines (present or absent): Present Density: 3/cm² 3/cm² 2/cm² Shape: Acute Length: 0.9 cm Width: 0.2 cm 0.1 cm 0.05 cm Apex descriptor: Lanceolate Color: Base = RHS N144D Tip = RHS 166 B

-   Bud Shape: Acute     -   -   Length.—0.9 cm.         -   Diameter (base).—0.3 cm.         -   Diameter (tip).—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 195A -   Foliage: -   General description: Leaves during vegetative growth are     pentafoliate, while leaves which develop on fruiting laterals are     trifoliate. All leaves have abaxial trichomes, soft to the touch.     The adaxial surface of the leaves have fewer trichomes and are     rugose to the touch. The leaflets are triply serrate. There are     small spines on the under-part of the leaf rib. The petioles and     petiolules often have a deep red hue, yet are dependent upon sun     exposure. -   Leaves     -   -   Complete leaf.—Length: 19.2 cm Width: 17.4 cm Number of             leaflets: 5.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Size Length (cm): 8.3 cm Width (cm): 7.1             cm Length/Width ratio: 1.17 Shape of apex: Acuminate Shape             of Base: Cordate Margin: Triple serrate Texture: Smooth with             mild interveinal puckering Number of serrations/leaf: 139             Shape of serrations: Flexuous-Flexuous Color Upper Surface:             RHS 147A Lower Surface: RHS 138A Venation pattern:             Alternately Pinnate Venation Color: Upper surface: RHS 146D             Lower surface: RHS N144D Leaf pubescence density: Moderate             Color of leaf pubescence: RHS 157D Shape of leaf in             cross-section: Simple Cordate Leaflet Number of             leaflets/leaf: 5 Interveinal blistering: Moderate             Glossiness: Moderate.         -   Primocane leaves.—Petiole length: 7.3 cm Petiole diameter:             0.2 cm Petiole Color Upper: RHS 143A Lower: RHS 144B Rachis             length: 3.7 cm Stipule length: 1.6 cm Stipules per leaf: 2             Stipule Width: 1.6 cm Stipule Color: Accent — RHS 165A             Undertone — RHS 143A Upper Surface: RHS 147A Lower Surface:             RHS 138A.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 8.3 cm Width: 6.7 cm Rachis             length: 3.7 cm.         -   Distal lateral leaflet.—Length: 7.85 cm Width: 6.15 cm             Petiolule length: 1.8 cm.         -   Basal lateral leaflet.—Length: 7.0 cm Width: 5.2 cm             Petiolule length: 0.5 cm -   Flowers     -   -   Time of flowering (50% of plants at first flower).—June 15             on primocanes.         -   Size.—Length: 1.3 cm Diameter: 4.3 cm.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 0.1 cm Diameter: 0.6 cm Color: RHS 141C             Pubescence: RHS 157D Texture: Smooth with few undulations.         -   Perianth.—Flowering trusses shape: Truncate.         -   Petals.—Color (upper and lower): RHS NN155B Number per             flower: 5 Shape: Elliptical Length: 2.0 cm Width: 1.3 cm             Apex descriptor: Rounded Base Descriptor: Truncate Margin             descriptor: Crenate.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5 Length: 0.6 cm Width: Base — 0.5 cm             Middle — 0.4 cm Tip — 0.05 cm Color: RHS 143B Apex             descriptor: Acuminate.         -   Margin descriptor.—Entire.         -   Pedicel.—Color: RHS 144A Length: 4.7 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm.         -   Reproductive organs.—Self-fertile: Yes.         -   Male.—Stamen Number: 178 Length: 0.5 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm             Color: RHS NN155D Anther Length: 0.01 cm Diameter: 0.01 cm             Color: RHS 199A.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 163D Amount: moderate.         -   Female.—Style Length: 0.3 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS             149A Stigma Length: 0.05 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS             149A. -   Fruit (the following observations correlate to primocane fruit): -   General description: King berries of ‘APF-122’ are medium-large and     round in shape, but sometimes develop a slightly elongated shape.     Secondary berries are medium size and always round. Berries are very     firm. There is little color change (reversion) in drupelets from     black to red in postharvest cold storage and the fruits can be     stored for a long time (up to seven days). There is little to no     incidence of post-harvest decay or rot (during seven days of storage     at 5° C.).     -   -   Predominant shape.—Round Weight (g): 5.8 g Length: 2.8 cm             Width: 2.1 cm Length/Width ratio: 1.33.         -   Receptacle.—Length: 2.1 cm Diameter: 0.8 cm Color: RHS 142C.         -   Drupelet.—Length: 0.6 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm Number: 101             Weight: 0.3 g.         -   Fruit color.—External: RHS 203A Internal: N/A.         -   Firmness of skin.—Very Firm.         -   Firmness of flesh.—Very Firm.         -   Hollow center.—Absent.         -   Number of fruit per node.—5.3.         -   Time of ripening (50% of plants with first fruit).—August 1             on first-year primocanes.         -   Time of fruiting.—Late summer.         -   Type of bearing.—Primocane only.         -   Fruit yield.—12,500-14,000 lb/a.         -   Average brix°.—11.1.         -   Market use.—Fresh.         -   Keeping quality.—Excellent.         -   Shipping quality.—Excellent. -   Pest and disease resistance: (If typical of species, please indicate     so) Trials have shown high field tolerance to powdery mildew,     anthracnose, Agrobacterium, and botrytis 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant named ‘APF-122’ as described and shown herein. 